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Anthony Johnson | Defensive Tackle

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Dolphins signed LSU DT Anthony Johnson.

Johnson (6-foot-2, 308) left school following his true junior season after making 16 starts for Les Miles' Tigers, racking up 22 tackles for loss and seven sacks. Despite being nicknamed "The Freak" in college, Johnson underwhelmed at the Combine with a 5.24 forty, 24 1/2-inch vertical, and 8-foot-6 broad jump. Only 21 years old, Johnson offers upside as a three-technique, but needs to play harder on a down-to-down basis and polish his technique. He's a boom-or-bust project. Johnson was viewed as a mid- to late-round prospect but was flagged for a failed drug test at the Combine. Mon, May 12, 2014 08:22:00 PM

This is damaging news for a player already facing questions about his character. Johnson (6-foot-3, 308 pounds) has the ability of an NFL starter, but he was considered a mid- to late-round prospect not only for the aforementioned concerns, but also because many believes he lacks desire, which relegated him to platoon status in college. Johnson is supremely athletic, but coaches may be reticent to vouch for him. Mon, May 5, 2014 08:40:00 PM

Johnson made the announcement on twitter. He is one of six LSU non-seniors expected to declare for the draft, which also includes Jarvis Landry, Odell Beckham Jr., Jeremy Hill, Ego Ferguson, and La'El Collins. Fri, Jan 3, 2014 10:19:00 AM

Johnson is "slightly undersized but explosive," Pauline says, adding the defensive tackle has struggled with his consistency. "He really hasn't put it together like I thought he could have this year." If you're keeping track, Pauline believes Johnson's defensive tackle teammate, Ego Ferguson, will also declare. Wed, Nov 6, 2013 11:32:00 AM

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This is damaging news for a player already facing questions about his character. Johnson (6-foot-3, 308 pounds) has the ability of an NFL starter, but he was considered a mid- to late-round prospect not only for the aforementioned concerns, but also because many believes he lacks desire, which relegated him to platoon status in college. Johnson is supremely athletic, but coaches may be reticent to vouch for him.

Johnson made the announcement on twitter. He is one of six LSU non-seniors expected to declare for the draft, which also includes Jarvis Landry, Odell Beckham Jr., Jeremy Hill, Ego Ferguson, and La'El Collins.

Johnson is "slightly undersized but explosive," Pauline says, adding the defensive tackle has struggled with his consistency. "He really hasn't put it together like I thought he could have this year." If you're keeping track, Pauline believes Johnson's defensive tackle teammate, Ego Ferguson, will also declare.

New year, same story for Johnson. Nicknamed "The Freak," analysis of Johnson tends to focus on flashes of insane athleticism or pointed criticism of his desire or technique. Johnson is firmly on NFL radars, but some scouts may have to make peace with the fact that his potential is as an interior pass rusher in a defensive line platoon.

"He's been dubbed "The Freak" for a reason, but we still haven't seen him fully take off," Aschoff writes. "That should change this fall with him being the centerpiece of LSU's defensive line." The Tigers lost plenty of talent to the NFL last April, but Johnson could provide that consistent interior pass rush that is coveted at the next level.

Jeremiah admits that Johnson has a "ton of ability," but his consistency is an issue thanks to his tendency to let opposing offensive linemen into his chest. Johnson was "flat backed" a few times versus Florida, according to Jeremiah. Despite losing multiple defensive linemen to the NFL, LSU still deploys a good amount of talent along their front four.

Scouts Inc.'s Todd McShay believes LSU could deploy a better DT duo this season than they did in 2012.

There are some caveats, and McShay notes junior defensive tackle Anthony Johnson must stay in great shape and junior Ego Ferguson needs to consistently play at the level he did against Clemson. Johnson only started three games last season, and Ferguson accounted for no starts, but LSU loves to rotate their interior defensive linemen.